Veteran jumper Amanood Lad defied his age and avoided carnage to win the Koral Steeplechase at Riccarton on Saturday.
The 14yr-old sprinted to the line to win the 4250m feature while runner-up Chocolate Fish was jumping extra obstacles.
Chocolate Fish was forced to leap over rival Notabadrooster, who fell at the last steeple.
Chocolate Fish cleared both the fallen horse and rider Will Gordon.
Chocolate Fish launched a remarkable late run from second-last approaching the home turn before coming to the chaotic scene at the last jump.
He rallied late in a excellent effort and only went down by a half-neck margin to Amanood Lad.
He could well start as favourite in the Grand National Steeplechase next Saturday.
Amanood Lad did his Grand National chances no harm by winning at his first look at the Riccarton track.
Hastings trainer Paul Nelson was left in awe of his sprightly charge after the victory.
"You’ve got to marvel at this old horse. We’re very lucky to get him to train," he said.
Amanood Lad’s victory was Nelson’s 200th training success in New Zealand.
He is hopeful Amanood Lad can follow in the footsteps of his former chaser No Hero, who won the Koral-Grand National Steeplechase double at the Grand National carnival in 2005.
A Grand National win would complete Amanood Lad’s already brilliant jumping resume, Nelson said.
"He’s won the Great Northern Steeples and the Wellington Steeples and it would be nice if he could win all three big ones."
Punters were left scratching their heads after the Koral with the shock failure of two leading contenders for the Grand National Steeplechase.
Upper Cut was pulled out of the race by rider Matthew Cropp after the horse jumped the "Jumbo" fence near the 700m.
The horse was later found to have ruptured a flexor tendon, which rules him out of next Saturday’s National, a race he won last year and the year before.
Wise Men Say lost touch with the field after the 1000m and was beaten more than 22 lengths at the finish.
Rider Isaac Lupton reported to stewards that Wise Men Say mixed his jumping efforts and that the gelding would be better suited to a longer journey.
Third placegetter The Big Opal was shooting for his third consecutive win in the Koral.
He battled on well after leading in an encouraging lead-up for the National.
